6 October 2006

Fun day at work:

* One of our anchors got a new guitar in the mail and proceeded to serenade all of us in the newsroom.

* I missed a sexual harassment seminar here while I was in Syracuse (thank God), but heard that cussing is supposedly forbidden now. We're in the news business. Good luck with that. (My advice: stay out of all control rooms.)

* Steve Centanni (our formerly kidnapped colleague) was back in the office today. It's really nice to see him.

* White House Spokesman Tony Snow called one of our reporters while I was in his office today. I told him to tell Tony I said hello--and Tony replied: "Give her a hug from me. She's the best hugger in the business."

* Our State Department correspondent is traveling overseas with Secretary Rice and apparently got REALLY sick during a stop in Turkey. Like major gasto-intestinal issues. He just called into the bureau with a report and sounded like shit. We like to tease this guy (good-natured joshing, of course) but we all felt really bad.

5 October 2006

Nott Memorial on the campus of Union College
Spent the past few days visiting family in upstate New York. Highlights of the trip:

* My brother's induction into his college's hall of fame. (Union College in Schenectady.) There was a luncheon, his portrait was unveiled in the field house, and he (and the other 5 inductees) were recognized at halftime of the football game. The occasion was bittersweet--the day he was inducted was the 10 year annivesary of our father's passing. There were some tears, but all of us (including my mother) managed not to lose it during my brother's speech.

Here's a blurb from Union's Website:

SCOTT REMILLARD
Inducted in 2006
Scott Remillard ‘86 won a national championship and four NCAA Division III All-American honors during a stunning track & field career at Union. He won the 1986 national title in the 35-pound weight throw, and was a two-time All-American in both the 35-pound and hammer throw events. He held the Union records for the discus, hammer and 35-pound weight, and earned Union Field Events MVP honors in all four of his seasons. Remillard won the Upstate New York Colleges State Championship in the discus, hammer and 35-pound weight, and was the Upstate Most Valuable Track Athlete in 1986. He was one of just 12 individuals selected from all three divisions for a 1986 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship (only four Union athletes have received this honor as of 2006).


* Long talks with my mother and helping her with things around the house, including a sentimental trip to our family church to donate stuff for the fall rummage sale. Mom also made one of her famous rhubarb pies with rhubarb right from her garden.

* A nice visit with my Grammy who's 90. She has a lot of medical problems, but she's still as spunky as ever. I feel very blessed to have such a good relationship with her.

* A nice visit with a very good childhood friend of mine, Amy. I met her new son, Jack Martin, and played with her daughter, Grace. We talked for hours and she made me the most delicious Italian dinner. I'm so lucky to have such a dear friend who's known me since we were kids. (I taught Amy how to ride a bike!)

* Listening to an awesome college radio station on my drive from Syracuse to Albany--WRPI radio. I ran my college radio station at GW back in the day and it brought back some really good memories.

5 October 2006

Barney Frank summed up my feelings on this whole Mark Foley travesty: "This is the problem with the closet: it’s a terrible place to be, and it’s got to be worse if you’re a Republican." Amen, brother.

Update Friday: The Los Angeles Times did a good story today about how politically risky it is to be a gay Republican. The story is HERE.